Marriott Just Opened a New Luxury Resort in the Dominican Republic With Swim-Out Rooms and a Rooftop Pool 

We love swim-out rooms. There’s something about walking out your door of your room and jumping right into the pool. For some reason, though, it’s a concept that’s typically found itself in all-inclusive resorts — not classic luxury hotels. But travelers are increasingly asking for them — and now you can even find them in one of the newest ultra-luxe retreats in the Caribbean. 

The St. Regis Cap Cana, which just opened its doors in the most exclusive area of Punta Cana, has 200 rooms, and a not-insignificant 36 of them are actually swim-out suites. 

It’s a cool concept for just the second St. Regis on a Caribbean island and the second to open its doors this year (along with the already popular St. Regis in Aruba). 

The biggest attraction here is undoubtedly the golf course: the Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada golf course was here long before the resort, and it remains one of the top tracks in the broader region, with some seriously spectacular oceanside holes that we loved on our last trip to the course. 

So what else do we like? If you’ve ever been to a St. Regis, you know that the food and beverage is one of the centerpieces, a tradition that began with the King Cole Bar in New York. And that continues here, with some welcome concepts like the Kawa Coffee Shop, a “tasting room” called El Huerto and of course a signature St. Regis Bar. 

That’s along with eateries like the Latin-inspired Cassava and the first Caribbean restaurant by superstar Peruvian Chef Diego Muñoz. 

But the indisputable hotspot is Cielo Mio, a rooftop pool and lounge with jaw-dropping views and a tiki bar. 

There’s a concern, particularly with big-brand luxury developments, of homogeneity. Not here — the emphasis is on expertly melding the pedigree of the St. Regis with the landscape and culture of the region. 

The addition of St. Regis is another feather in the cap for Cap Cana, which has a growing collection of high-level resorts (including the nearby Eden Roc Cap Cana, one of our editors’ favorite luxury hotels anywhere in the Caribbean) and continues to cement itself as a destination for luxury travelers.

So what about prices? Well, you can find superior rooms with limited views for about $509 per night. 

Swim-out rooms (Marriott calls them “Palm Luxe Swim Out”) start at around $705 per night. 

How do you get to Cap Cana? Fly nonstop to Punta Cana (here are some Google Flights options) and it’s less than a 15-minute drive.